Conversation Space: The Ultimate

[powersthatbe]

You feel as if you've stepped through a door.

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VIII. Strength

[callmemeibe]

This space is an open field, surrounded by marigolds. If one were to look closely, it appears each marigold has exactly eight petals. In the middle of the open field is a sturdy wooden ottoman, carved delicately with the likenesses of lotuses. Next to it is a matching end table, with a steaming cup of masala chai sitting on a saucer with some tea biscuits.

[galvanizer]

... She could have returned to far worse places, probably, so Asaraanda can stay calm for the moment. She spares the chai and biscuits a glance and refocuses on her surroundings, kneeling by the flowers with her staff to the ground.

"Where are you?" she calls, fingertips brushing over the flower petals, absently counting them. "You brought me here, the least you can do is greet your guest."

[callmemeibe]

"I was giving you time to adjust," says a calm female voice. An eight-armed woman slowly appears in view, before she too kneels by the flowers and places her weighty spear on the ground as well. "Greetings, Inquisitor Asaraanda, and welcome back. I am Durga, Eight, Strength.

[galvanizer]

"Just 'Inquisitor' or 'Asaraanda' works, if it's all the same," she answers, glancing at the 'woman' and eyeing her many arms. "What should I call you?"

[callmemeibe]

"Asaraanda, then. Inquisitor is... a title, not a name." Her fingers open and she offers her many palms upward, in friendly greeting. "Whatever you wish. All are my names this round."

[galvanizer]

"... Durga, then. That seems the most name-like," she shrugs. Though she's not quite sure what she's meant to do when faced with so many hands, blinking confusedly before cautiously rising to offer one of her own to shake.

"So, why am I here, Durga?"

[starshaper]

What ... is... this? Surely nothing that Eternal Sailor Moon expects to see once she jumps into Galaxy Cauldron, though she can only guess what it's going to be like inside there. This place? It's peaceful, the color of the flowers reminds her of Rei and Minako, the tea and bisquits remind her of Makoto and she can easily imagine Ami reading a book there. She can easily imagine all of her loved ones with her there. And as tempting as those biscuits look, everyone's lives are a lot more important to her than stopping to eat while she should be there saving them. So surprising as it may be, the girl is ignoring something edible for the moment even though they are trying to tempt her just by being there.

She wishes she knew how to get out, how to get back when there seems to be no way out or in of this place. But there's no one else either. Or if there is someone else, then Usagi can't see them. Not yet. It's not where she's supposed to be and dying has never sent her to a place like this either, so ...

"What is this?" The angel winged girl is surprisingly calm but only because she is trying so hard to keep herself together while she keeps standing there. She could never allow herself to fail them. They need her, she doesn't have time for this.

[callmemeibe]

"My corner of Liminal Space," a gentle voice answers. Behind Usagi is a brave-looking warrior woman, all dressed in foreign clothes with gold embroidery, whose eight arms rest calmly at her side. One of her hands is holding a large, imposing spear, but it is not held in a threatening manner.

"You do not wish to eat?" The woman asks, a little surprised.

[starshaper]

Sailor Moon turns around as soon as she hears the voice. She stares at this strange woman for a while-- and somehow she reminds her of Pluto. Must be the spear, her own corner in some space and the gentle braveness or something. She could hold her weapon too but she's not, she's had enough of turning people into dust with it today. No more fighting if she can avoid it and this woman doesn't look threatening. The amount of her arms is surprising, it's clear from her face for a moment before Sailor Moon takes a deep breath and looks like a brave warrior too.

"Eating can't always be my first priority!" As much as she would absolutely love to eat right now... "What I wish is to return to where I was so I can save everyone. Please -- if I don't, then they won't have anyone else to get them back." She swallows hard. "A-And, they've always done so much. For me. I have to do it for them, I'm the only one who can help them... I can't -- fail them now." Well, she must at least try to talk her into letting her go back.

[callmemeibe]

"I am afraid I cannot send you back. Not yet, Chosen Usagi. I have not the power. But if I win. If you help me." She steps forward, one of her right hands reaching out to rest gently on her shoulder, warmly. "I will ensure you return. To protect the ones you love."

[smokeandcarbs]

In Jean's world, there is a district famous for its beautiful flowers, spiced tea and irreproachable hospitality. Pity some powerful people there must hate his guts at this point. Still, something tells him this can't be the same place. Too many marigolds and not enough lilies.

Feeling comfortable and welcomed by the yellow and orange sea of petals, he decides that nobody is going to try to murder him this time, probably, and approaches the wooden ottoman. His mother taught him manners though, so he waits for an invitation before sitting down and trying the biscuits.

"Hello?" he asks instead, looking around for any sights of life, kind of itching for a cigarette.

[callmemeibe]

"Hello," answers a calm feminine voice. Kneeling near the endtable, across from the ottoman, is a strong warrior woman type - if only because a large spear rests in one of her eight hands. She smiles politely and clasps the other three pairs of hands in front of her in greeting, her last free hand pouring an extra cup of tea for herself. "And welcome, Jean Otis. You may sit if you like."

[smokeandcarbs]

Blue round eyes going a fraction rounder than usual, Jean carefully sits down on the ottoman like a good boy and tries to collect his thoughts, which have been temporarily derailed by the fact that the nice lady has more hands than strictly necessary.

"Huh." Yup, completely bananas. He closes his eyes for a brief second, reaching for the cup. Comfort drink sounds like a lovely idea right now.

Opening his eyes again and ascertaining that yes, she is still there, he manages in his own soft voice: "Thank you, Miss...?"

[callmemeibe]

"Strength, the Eighth Arcanum. Durga, Kushmanda, are the names I have chosen. For this particular stage of Synodiporia. Any of these will do."

She seems quite pleased that he is actually taking the food she's offered. She takes a gentle sip from her cup while waiting for the next question.

[smokeandcarbs]

He's eating the biscuits too, and they taste delicious. Somehow, he wonders if this is one of those cases in which people who taste food from the other side will remain there for ever and ever.

Which brings him to the next question.

"It would be really nice to wake up in my bed right now, and find my friend and my little sister, safe and sound, in our home's kitchen. Do you think you could arrange that, Ms. Durga?"

[whatspringislike]

"Um, hello?"

Shinji's voice is almost cringingly uncertain as he tentatively makes his way up to the end table, looking down at the cup of chai but not taking it.

"All the voices in my head went away... can anyone hear me?"

[callmemeibe]

"I can," says a calm female voice. A woman with eight arms stands before Shinji, loosely holding a spear in one hand. She places her other pairs of hands together and bows politely to him. "Welcome. May I call you Shinji?"

[whatspringislike]

"--!!!" he yelps, arms pinwheeling as he staggers backward away from her. "I- what?"

[giveme]

"I am Durga. Eighth. Strength. Welcome to Synodiporia, Shinji."

[whatspringislike]

"S-synodi- WHAT?" He shakes his head. "You mean - this game, that everyone's talking about? And you're really - not human, not at all..." He shivers, then grits his teeth.

"You can't just do this to us!" he proclaims, as loud as he can. "Stealing people away from their homes - that's kidnapping!"

[tonant]

Ochre's spent a lot of time in various echo realms, so when the voices chattering in his head cut off, he has a good feels as for what he's about to face.

The drastic change in location does a lot for that, too.

"Hello?"

Just don't let this echo, or whatever they're called here, be a shitty one.

[giveme]

"Hello, Ochre. Or would you rather 'Kanji?'"

A woman with many arms gradually fades into view in front of Ochre. In one hand she loosely holds a spear. She presses another pair of hands together, palm to palm, and bows to him.

[tonant]

"Ochre." He returns gesture, pulling his shield off of his back and setting it, tip down, on the ground, bowing over it.

Caretaker had at least taught him the basics of manners.

"You're Strength?"

Not that many manners, though.

[giveme]

"Yes," she says. "You may call me Durga. If you wish. Have you been told of Synodiporia?"

[tonant]

"That what this place is called?"

He- hasn't been given it's name yet.